Merry Christmas!

I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I walked around the neighborhood the other night and took a few pictures of the decorations. The people around here really take it seriously! In the first two pictures...that is snow...not orbs or several moons and stars. I think it came out kind of cool!

Serenity Sunday...week 34

Glowing rays

swim gold and white
from the candle's flickering light.

A child awaiting sleep
spins a yarn with charm
that magically banishes all harm.

Tamara Egan

08/14/00

Serenity Sunday...week 33

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sounds the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost
New Hampshire
1923

This is perhaps, my favorite poem. You can picture the scene as he's writing it. Amazing.....inspiration...

New Record!

Update: Widespread snowfall

ends 287-day streak for

Central New York



That was the headline this afternoon.

Finally...snow in snow country!



Ummm...not that I was looking forward to it too much...

I was secretly doing a little happy dance every time the

snow skirted our area without stopping in to say 'hello'!



The biggest snow plow in the world is the 32-foot,

3-inch blade attached to a payloader at Hancock International

Airport, Syracuse, NY. The 48-inch tall piece of steel can clear

8,500 cubic yards of snow in an hour.

(Cleaning a runway at Hancock International Airport with

the world's biggest snow plow.

Only 28 feet of its blade was being used.)

Serenity Sunday...week 32

First Snow
It falls aimlessly from the sky,
slowly, gracefully and without a plan.
Light, sparkling stars wandering towards the earth,
form a fluffy covering over the leafless trees and frozen ground.
But it’s a comforting site, the fresh wintry layer of glistening snow,
with it, comes memories of lazy Sunday afternoons by a warm a cozy fire,
hot cocoa and snuggling happily while watching through the frosted windows
as the snow falls and covers everything in sight
in a perfect, pristine blanket of white.

Tamara J. Egan

Copyright
11/2/00

*Yesterday evening, we had a little snow. It's so unusual for us, being known for having big snow totals, not to have had any measurable snow this late in the season. I have to admit, it makes it easier to get around and plan things, but it sure seems strange not to have a blanket of white and flurries follow you around. I'd be surprised if what we got was even recorded as measurable. In my yard you can see the grass and there is no snow on the sidewalks or streets...just weird....

Christmas...in the movies...ahhhh

Serenity Sunday...week 31

Never are voices so beautiful as on a winter's evening, when dusk almost hides the body, and they seem to issue from nothingness with a note of intimacy seldom heard by day.
Virginia Wolfe

What now?

Thanksgiving is over, save for the wonderful leftovers. I came home with the makings of delectable turkey sandwiches, hot and cold, from dinner with my family.

I live in a somewhat rural area and my parents live a scant eight miles from me. So driving from my small town to theirs takes in some beautiful scenery that changes from day into night. Old farm houses and acres of wooded land cover most of the drive. In the evening, I can see into those old homes (not in a weird way) and through the uncovered windows it's comforting to see the families gathered around a table or in a family room. Driveways and roadsides are filled with vehicles and it just gives you a warm feeling knowing that so many families are celebrating the holiday of giving thanks, together.

(A painting that I did a couple of years ago.)

So, now what? The oven is off, the leftovers are in the fridge and the tradition of Thanksgiving has been fulfilled. The attic door will open, the decorations will start trickling down. I put my lights on the garden arch over the sidewalk that leads to my porch door, last night while the weather was warm. Traditionally, I like to light the outdoor decorations on Thanksgiving night. I use all white lights and other than the arch and something on the porch, I rarely do much more as far as lighting goes. I used to light the tree (s) in the front of the house, but they are just too big for me to do now.

(Photo courtesy of the world wide web. I've had it for years and sincerely don't know where it's from.)

I looked through the ads last night and nothing jumped out at me, or at least enough to make me want to get up at 4am and join the many shoppers in the stores. I have been there and stood in line for an hour to shop on black Friday many times. Honestly, its kind of fun and a great kick -off to the Christmas season. Standing in line, people are ready for shopping, they are sharing ads, sipping coffee and usually, freezing cold, but in a jolly mood none the less.

(I love this photo of a winter cabin that I found online last year. Kind of cozy, huh?)

(Photo courtesy of Countryliving magazine online.)

(Photo courtesy of Countryliving magazine online.)

Our first real snowfall happened overnight. I woke to (only) about 1 inch, which has vanished already. We had a dusting of snow a couple weeks ago, but it didn't happen at the airport, so it wasn't measured for the official snowfall total. We are so late for measurable snowfall. Yesterday the temps were so warm that I really only needed to wear a light quilted vest. It was just a little weird not having snow. I don't mind so much, but know that later, we'll certainly pay for the lack of snow, with big totals later in the season. It's just how it works around here.

(My own backyard a couple of years ago.)

I've already looked online to get a concise and printable schedule of all the Christmas TV shows and specials. Heaven forbid I miss "Christmas In Connecticut" (with Barbra Stanwick) or "White Christmas"!

(This and the following are photos taken from my porch door last year.)

So, in conclusion, this season promises to be a busy one. I have a few parties to attend (one next week already), lots of days working at the shop, shopping and a little decorating as well. Let's try to remember to keep the holiday magic working, the patience of the Saints and good will in our hearts.

Happy Turkey Day!

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends, some old and some new, a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Serenity Sunday...week 30 Happy Thanksgiving

"We tend to forget that happiness

doesn't come as a result of

getting something we don't have,

but rather of recognizing and

appreciating what we do have."

Frederick Keonig

"We cannot do great things on this Earth,

only small things with great love."

Mother Teresa

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

to you and yours!

With much appreciation, Tami

Serenity Sunday...week 29

One doesn't recognize the really important

moments in one's life until it's too late.

– Agatha Christie

AND THE WINNER IS....

AND THE WINNER IS.......

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 74

Result: 40

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Mindy from

Primtiques 'n Poetry!

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who left a comment, posted, and signed up to follow. This was so much fun!

I met a bunch of wonderful people and visited a bunch of new blogs!

Mindy, email me your address and I'll get these out to you ASAP!

GIVE-AWAY LAST DAY TO ENTER!

Last day to enter the

Christmas Box

Give-away!

Includes:

Eight hand-painted (by yours truly) glass tree balls,
4-silver and 4-pearly white, with pink roses,

Two pair of rusty jungle bells,

dusted with mica snow and

tied up with sage green ribbon,

Magical Santa Key with original poem.
Hurry on over to this post

and comment to enter!

Give-Away...3 More Days to Enter!

Only 3 more days to enter for the

Christmas Box give-away!

We're celebrating my 75th post...

so tell your friends to hurry and enter to win!

Serenity Sunday...week 28

Along the streets,

I found weed-grown lawns

and rotted stumps
where grasses and
poplars once were,
and I wept.

copyright

Tamara Egan

9/5/00

Help me celebrate my 75th post! A give-away!

It seems there is a tradition among bloggers (at least most of those that I read) that invites the readers to help celebrate milestones of different kinds or anniversaries etc.

Now it's my turn to host a give-away!

Announcing

South Street Shabby's Christmas Box

to celebrate my 75th post!

It took a while to get the ornaments (any other time they would be in the stores long ago, but because I wanted them, they didn't turn up until last week.) and then they had to be put together. The rest of the pieces I gathered pretty easily and so here it is...

The box will include the following...

St. Nick's Magical Key

An antique skeleton key on a gold ribbon. The key is attached

to an original poem that explains the magical key and how it will

allow Santa to enter your home on Christmas Eve Night.

St. Nick's Key

On this magical night,

with his reindeer high in flight,

Santa flies from house to house,

and fills all the stockings, quiet as a mouse.

Those with no chimney,

don't need to worry,

this special key and magic words,

will help Santa do all his Christmas work.

Close your eyes, so you can't see,

say these words and count to three...

"I believe with all my might,

on this special night of nights,

I've been good and I've been nice,

There's Christmas magic in my heart tonight."

This magic key will open the door for Santa on Christmas Eve Night.

Christmas bells!

Two pair of rusty christmas bells, dusted with mica snow

and hanging on a mossy green satin ribbon.

...another view (pic not so good)

...another view of the (two pair) rusty bells...

Ok...the best part...

Eight hand-painted original glass christmas tree ball ornaments.

Four are silver glass with pink and white roses and rose buds and the remaining four are pearly-white glass with pink and white roses and rose buds. They are all tied atop the ornaments with a mossy green satin ribbon. I paint and sell tons of these every year and they are great as hostess

gifts, hung on a tree, placed in a cut glass bowl as shown, hung in windows or over mirrors.

(close up of a pearly-white ball)

(silver ball on the left and pearly-white on the right)

(shown in a cut glass bowl)

(glass bowl not included)

How to enter my give-away:

1) Leave a comment that tells me where you are from and your favorite Christmas decoration or tradition. (This will be one entry.)

2) Complete #1 and become a follower. (This will be your second entry.)

3) Post a link about my give-away on your blog and send me an email (tje4481@aol.com) telling me that you did. (This will be your third entry.)

** You may enter starting now and entries will continue through Saturday November 14th at midnight eastern time.

**The winner will be drawn and announced on Sunday November 15, 2009.

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

Another couple of hints....

What do these have in common with the

other objects in the previous 'hint' posts?

Stay tuned later this evening for the big reveal......

Heads up! There's SNOW in them thar' hills...

Central NY and the Syracuse area in particular, is known for it's snowfall averages. There is a 'competition' among the cities in NY called the Golden Snowball Award. It's a friendly contest and kind of fun to follow. Syracuse has been the winner, hands down, since 2002-2003 season. Our total last year (2008-2009)...a whopping 149.6 inches!

SO....let the games begin!

Syracuse
Max: 192.1 inches (1992-93)
Min: 59.4 inches (2001-02)
Average: 116.9 inches

Stay tuned later today for the answer to the riddle and an announcement!

Just a hint 2...

Hmmmmmmm..........

still not sure?

...it seems there is somewhat of a tradition among bloggers....

When a milestone or some kind of special occasion

is upon the writer ...

the readers celebrate...any ideas?

* Sorry for the bad pictures, but no time to redo them, it's kinda late here....:-)